Attacks on Kewell are out of bounds

By Craig Foster

10 October 2010 — 3:00am

Attacks on Harry Kewell have moved beyond the bounds of acceptable and objective critique.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Harry this week and we agreed that analysis, opinion and critique are highly valuable in building an intelligent football culture, as long as they are about the game and do not become personal.

Harry is one of our greatest footballers, perhaps the greatest. His impact has lessened with age and injury but the Croatia game in 2006 and Ghana 2010, before his red card, were reminders of his quality. As is his outstanding goal-scoring record with Galatasaray.

Some have said the issue of Harry's fitness distracted the Socceroos in South Africa but that sounds like an abrogation of responsibility to me. This is an issue for the coach and his staff. If any players are out of line it is their responsibility and their management that should be questioned.

Others say Harry is not committed or a team player. This is neither my experience nor my understanding.

Right from when he was an emerging young star through his glory years at Leeds and Liverpool, Harry's shyness could easily be mistaken for aloofness but he was always firmly committed to the group.

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As a strong advocate of players' rights within the Socceroos, he was often involved in negotiations with the governing body and in organising players. I can tell you that while other stars thought only of their own welfare, Kewell was the first to put himself, and his reputation, at the team's service. This is real character, because Harry didn't need better conditions, extra money nor the headache. ''But that's not the point Harry,'' we would tell him, ''it's about the younger players, the lesser knowns - they're the ones we are negotiating for.'' Those who won't ever play for Leeds or Liverpool, or have more than 400,000 Facebook followers.

Harry would nod and say, ''OK, let me know what you need me to do.''

For this, and apart from his football career, he has my respect. And let us never forget how much Australian football has used Harry for its own purposes.

When the FFA needed to defuse a dangerous situation between players and coach at the 2007 Asian Cup, who was wheeled out to publicly lend his credibility to the campaign? Harry Kewell.

Even though it became clear he had irreparable issues with the coach of the time, Harry was still prepared to sit in front of the cameras and tell us it was all right. It takes character to sacrifice and this was the embodiment of Australian values.

Ditto 2010, after the Germany match. Press conference scheduled. Harry Kewell to calm the nation. Harry could have refused but he has long since become used to Australian football - players and administrators - using his name to get messages across. To promote. To sell.

Like all players, Harry will one day be surplus to requirements for the national team, and 22 million of us will have our own view on when this is the case. But for someone who has done nothing but pull on the shirt for more than a decade and play his heart out for the country to be attacked with arguments that have nothing to do with football whenever he touches down on home turf is distasteful in the extreme.

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Legends don't often come along. Let us be sure that any questions raised about them are fair and objective, and their contribution to the game is respected.

Harry didn't need the Australian game while he was building the most decorated career in our football history - we needed him. Yet he responded every time, in every way. For a minority to seek to dishonour his contribution sickens me to the pit of my stomach.